Any thoughts on this bird? (1 Viewer)

[fiveroll]

New Bern, North Carolina. 10/16/2024.
Don’t know if the photos are adequate.

 

[KenM]

My nemesis….Orange-crowned Warbler.

Cheers

 

[qwerty5]

Looks like it has wing bars and white undertail coverts. I'd say Blackpoll.

 

[KenM]

Looks like it has wing bars and white undertail coverts. I'd say Blackpoll.

Yup! that’s a contrasty wing bar that I missed!😩 Think this calls for an Autumn visit as opposed to Spring visits. 👍

 

[Bewick]

Looks like it has wing bars and white undertail coverts. I'd say Blackpoll.

Or a bay-breasted warbler… this might be a case of ‘Baypoll’. Missing the features that would conclusively put it as either in my opinion (no bay wash to the lower flanks for bay and no noticeable streaking to upper breast flanks for poll).

 

[qwerty5]

Or a bay-breasted warbler… this might be a case of ‘Baypoll’. Missing the features that would conclusively put it as either in my opinion (no bay wash to the lower flanks for bay and no noticeable streaking to upper breast flanks for poll).

I think there is probably some streaking on the sides, and the flanks + undertail coverts being pure white combined with a thoroughly yellowish chest makes it much more likely to be Blackpoll. It looks like the foot might be orange in the first photo.

 

[Bewick]

I think there is probably some streaking on the sides, and the flanks + undertail coverts being pure white combined with a thoroughly yellowish chest makes it much more likely to be Blackpoll. It looks like the foot might be orange in the first photo.

Cannot make out any streaking personally, we can barely see the undertail coverts and female/immature BBW’s can also have very pale undertail coverts. Would not trust colouration on poor images, isn’t greenish-yellow better for BBW’s anyway?

Honestly, I do not believe a definitive ID can be made and the OP should just put it down as a baypoll.

 

[fiveroll]

 

[qwerty5]

Cannot make out any streaking personally, we can barely see the undertail coverts and female/immature BBW’s can also have very pale undertail coverts. Would not trust colouration on poor images, isn’t greenish-yellow better for BBW’s anyway?

Honestly, I do not believe a definitive ID can be made and the OP should just put it down as a baypoll.

The specific color of the underparts isn't important here. What I'm referring to is the yellowish wash over the entire throat and chest in contrast to the pure white belly, flanks, and undertail coverts. Bay-breasted is much more uniform in underpart coloring, without such a contrast between the breast and flanks/UnTC. As in here. The facial pattern is also quite a bit better for Blackpoll imo.

I'll admit I could be overconfident here, so it would be good if someone else with experience could jump in. I just can't make this bird's GISS fit with a Bay-breasted very well.

 

[Bewick]

The specific color of the underparts isn't important here. What I'm referring to is the yellowish wash over the entire throat and chest in contrast to the pure white belly, flanks, and undertail coverts. Bay-breasted is much more uniform in underpart coloring, without such a contrast between the breast and flanks/UnTC. As in here. The facial pattern is also quite a bit better for Blackpoll imo.

Have to disagree, in the image you selected this is the case but plenty of images of BBW’s show this… confusion and the two being occasionally lumped would not occur if separation was sometimes not possible.

ML265074731 - Bay-breasted Warbler - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML265074731; © Peter F; Marion, Indiana, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

ML139647501 - Bay-breasted Warbler - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML139647501; © Ian Davies; Cameron, Texas, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

Also I have to disagree that the op’s birds shows ‘such a contrast’, this is not possible imo to assess with these images. Again I don’t favour either (maybe blackpoll a little), just think it’s probably better to consider it as either. We are missing the two best features for a definitive ID… maybe I would agree with you that if those feet are indeed orange and not just artefacted that the bird is more likely a blackpoll, would never personally put it down though.

Guess it’s a stalemate, honestly op’s decision. You definitely have more irl experience with American warblers.

 

[fiveroll]

New Bern, North Carolina. 10/16/2024.
Don’t know if the photos are adequate.

Found 2 more photos.

 

[AveryBartels]

qwerty does a pretty good job laying out why this is a Blackpoll so I'll just chime in that I agree with that assessment.